FENSA – ‘Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme’ – A Government authorised Competent Persons Scheme for the replacement of windows, doors and roof lights in England and Wales. It was set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and other industry bodies in response to Building Regulations for double glazing companies in England and Wales.

Do you need Planning Permission?

repairs, maintenance, and minor improvements, such as repainting window and door frames

insertion of new windows and doors that are of a similar appearance to those used in the construction of the house (note – a new bay window will be treated as an extension and may require permission). If new windows are in an upper-floor side elevation they must be obscure-glazed and either non opening or more than 1.7 metres above the floor level

New roof lights or skylights will not normally require an application for planning permission providing:

they do not protrude more than 150mm beyond the plane of the roof slope

they are no higher than the highest part of the roof

if they are in side elevation roof slope they must be obscure-glazed and either non opening or more than 1.7 metres above the floor level

Occasionally, you may need to apply for planning permission for some of these works because your council has made an Article 4 Direction withdrawing permitted development rights. If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works – internal or external.

Also, if you are a leaseholder, you may first need to get permission from your landlord or management company.

Planning Permission – Questions to ask yourself

Position/Structure – Are you replacing windows in positions where they currently exist, in which case Planning Permission is not likely to be relevant?

Are you considering changing window structure or location or adding new windows to places where they currently do not exist, in which case you must consider Planning Permission?

[Five Sixty, Reunion Tower, Dallas]

What are Building Regulations?

Building regulations are statutory instruments developed by the Government and approved by Parliament that seek to ensure that the policies set out in the relevant legislation are carried out.

They are minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building.

Building regulations approval is required for most building work in the UK.

Since 1 April 2002 building regulations have applied to all replacement glazing. The regulations apply to thermal performance and other areas such as safety, air supply, means of escape and ventilation.

These Regulations are split by documents with designated letters and apply to the following, detailed in FENSA Guide for Compliance .

I’ve highlighted in orange those Regulations that I deem to be slightly more general and perhaps relevant to the decision making process for an ‘average’ style of house… I know ‘average’ is debatable, just trying to give you some clue!

Details are in Part 2 post.

A1 – Structure

B1 and B3 – Fire Safety e.g. how high off floor are windows, fire escape route

Room function – What will the room be used for? Different Regulations depending on the type of room e.g. lounge, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom. I suggest you also consider the future you might ever rent out a room in which case e.g. a lounge becomes a bedroom so bedroom

If you make any changes to your windows that require Planning Permission and if you have new windows installed by an eligible installer (above), then upon completion of the work you should receive the following Certificates.

They are valuable as should you ever wish to sell your property then your purchaser’s solicitor will ask for evidence that any replacement glazing installed since April 2002 complies with the Building Regulations. So keep them in a safe place!

Local Authority Certificate – A certificate from the Local Authority Building Control stating that the installation has been approved under the Building Regulations.

FENSA Certificate – A certificate showing that the work has been done by an installer who is registered with FENSA or a similar body